Fort Belknap students continue pathways in nursing, public health and STEM

Programs at Aaniih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation continue to move forward in health and science, technology, engineering and mathematics - STEM - fields, with two programs over the summer ending recently.

A release said that one program, the Young Medicine Movement is a multi-level, innovative approach to supporting and developing Aaniiih and Nakoda scholars from the reservation via an educational pathway and tailored support for rising juniors in high school through to their graduate education.

The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health Native American Research Centers for Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Young Medicine Movement is a collaboration between Fort Belknap tribes, including Aaniiih Nakoda College, tribal health and public health nursing, and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. The summer program enhances critical factors, identified through prior research, to have protective value, with educational engagement, tribal identity and communal mastery, the release said.

The program, in its second year, had 10 new scholars joining nine returning scholars to complete the 7-week program at Aaniiih Nakoda College. First year scholars include: Junior Stiffarm (family members: Lyle and Francine Stiffarm), Aaraya Mount (Nate Mount and Koda Cochran), Jeremiah Henry (Jackson and Melissa Henry), Marie Hogan (Neal Hogan and Camille Stein), Travis Doney Jr. (Travis Doney, Jaye Doney, Carol Doney), Ihte Stiffarm (Nancy and John Stiffarm), Angela Black Crow (family members: Carmelita Black Crow, Elijah Black Crow, D'lynn Kamps, Alexis Black Crow), Mashyla Main (family members: Harold and Rosie Main), Rushawn Doney (family member: Sheena Shambo, Robyn Doney), Kyann Bergos (family members: Shyla Bishop, Shayne Bishop, Eddie Bishop). Second year scholars are: Elayna Adams (Carol J. Hawley), Kataya Kill Eagle (Deserae Kill Eagle, Ken Blackcrow Sr., Dwight Flansburg), Ma'Lea Moore (Crystal Moore and Lee Black Crow), Lacia Walls (Crystal Moore and Lee Black Crow), Jaden Black Crow (Crystal Moore and Lee Black Crow); Emjai Stiffarm (Nancy Stiffarm, Ignatius Stiffarm III), Mackenzie Pretty Paint (Verna Birdtail, George Denny, Ty Stump), Jermaine Brockie (Andrea and Bronc Speak Thunder), Michael Turnsplenty (Joshua and Drew Turnsplenty).

YMM is directed by RN Teresa Brockie, Ph.D, and Naomi Lee, Ph.D, and coordinated by Deserae Killeagle, Francine Stiffarm, Robert Pourier Jr., and Alicia Myrick.

Each of the seven weeks had a learning theme:

1) Career Development and Planning for the Future,

2) Chemistry,

3) Biology and Neuroscience,

4) Nursing,

5) Public Health,

6) Building Resilience, and

7) Planning for Success.

Faculty from across the country delivered content on the fields of nursing, public health, and STEM, the release said, adding that elders and cultural leaders connected with scholars on history, ceremony, and the importance of connection to culture. Culture and tribal identity are prioritized, as well as individual strengths, peer mentoring, and cumulative mastery of learning.

"Our Indigenous-led team has expertise in traditional knowledge, clinical/translational research, and a demonstrated history of working closely with tribal communities," the release said. "Our multi-level training approach is designed to provide learning opportunities that spark creativity, build resilience, provide inspiration, and offer instrumental and social support to take on new and old public health challenges at Fort Belknap."

In addition to receiving a stipend and laptop, scholars have multiple learning opportunities. Second-year scholars attended the Indigenous people in Genomics (SING) Conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where scholars learned from Indigenous experts in genomics through laboratory exercises, lectures, and networking events. Attending scholars joined undergraduate and graduate level students in learning about genomics - the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes - research with Indigenous communities. Additionally, all scholars may attend the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Conference in Spokane, Washington. The theme of the conference is Connect, Collaborate, IndigeNate. The three-day event focuses on education, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math studies and careers. Second year scholars will present research posters developed during YMM at the conference.

Family, friends, and community members came together for the YMM Closing Ceremony Aug. 1 to share a meal, listen to scholar poster presentations, and celebrate the completion of the program. ANC President Sean Chandler, Ph.D., served as keynote speaker, delivering inspiring address on his career journey and the importance of pursuing your passions.

YMM scholars will continue to receive support and mentoring for college applications, scholarships, FAFSA, and ACT preparation, as well as application support for the National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP) and other research opportunities. Applications will open for the next cohort of YMM scholars in Spring of 2024.

A group of students also received training in public health leadership in a program at Aaniiih Nakoda College.

In May 2023, five students from Aaniiih Nakoda College and other academic institutions were selected to participate in the program. The five students, selected from over 800 applicants, were placed at Fort Belknap for ten weeks to complete their summer internship in public health leadership in the Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program.

Aaniiih Nakoda College and Fort Belknap were were one of four sites selected for the initiative, led by the Kennedy Krieger Institute and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The local scholars are:

Veronica Tangen is an enrolled member of the Crow tribe and a child of the Whistling Water/Ties in the Bundle clans. Her mother and father are Quana Old Crane from Crow, MT, and Tracy Tangen from Harlem, MT. She is a mother of three young children and a current second-year nursing student at Aaniiih Nakoda College.

Trista Mai is an enrolled member of the Nakoda Tribe from the Medicine Bear Clan of Fort Belknap. Her mother is Margaret Crasco/Doney of Fort Belknap and the late Alvin Doney. She is married and has one son. Trista is currently a second-year nursing student at Aaniiih Nakoda College in the "Grow Our Own" program set to graduate in May 2024 with her Associate of Nursing.

Truth Brockie is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, from the Bitter Water Clan, and Aaniiih, from the Fast Travelers Clan. He was raised in Fort Belknap and is going to school at Montana State University. At MSU he is a microbiology major with a pre-medicine focus with aspirations to go to medical school and become a physician.

Denise Stanley is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from the Red Running into the Water clan. She was born and raised in New Mexico, later moving to the Fort Belknap reservation, where she still resides. She graduated from Aaniiih Nakoda College in 2019, majoring in allied health, and nursing in 2022. She is a mother to two children and currently studying to pass her NCLEX this fall.

Broncette Brown is a member of the Aaniiih Nakoda Tribe. She is currently attending college at the Aaniiih Nakoda College; she is working on obtaining her Associate of Science and she hopes to graduate by spring 2024.

The program was implemented to address shortages in the public health workforce, especially among populations who are underserved and underrepresented. Through the established partnership with Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Fort Belknap Tribal Health and Aaniiih Nakoda College, the program is offered to Fort Belknap scholars with the ultimate vision of eliminating health disparities and promoting the health and wellbeing of Aaniiih and Nakoda youth at Fort Belknap.

The scholars' first week consisted of a week-long orientation at the KKI in Baltimore, Maryland. Scholars gained insight into the field of public health and the disparities that underrepresented populations face while listening to various health professionals in how they address health disparities and social challenges.

After a week exploring and networking in Baltimore, the scholars returned to Fort Belknap to begin their placements. Trista Main was placed with Aaniiih Nakoda College Nursing Program with ANC Director ofNursing program Brigit Hemmer.

Veronica Tangen and Truth Brockie were placed with the Young Medicine Movement alongside YMM mentors Mina Kazemi, Teresa Brockie, Ph.D., and Deserae Killeagle. Denise Stanley was placed at Fort Belknap Tribal Health under the mentorship of Avis Spencer. Broncette Brown was placed with Chelsea Morales and her ANC Buffalo program. In addition to working at their site, each scholar was placed on a team with their peers from MCHC/RISE UP program and worked together on a presentation to address health disparities; this was their "CDC Winnable Battles" project.

Scholars developed posters based on their summer work and research in the field of public health. In July, three Fort Belknap scholars attended the CDC Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia where they presented their research poster to their peers, staff and other health professionals. While at the CDC in Atlanta, the scholars were able to network with many prestigious professionals in the field of public health throughout the CDC and make great connections to further their futures in public health.

Most recently, the five scholars worked with Senior Research Program Coordinator Mina Kazemi and Principal Investigator Teresa Brockie on developing their professional skills such as building their resume, cover letters, graduate school applications and conference abstract submissions. Next, the scholars are working on developing their posters to be presented at Advancing Indian Science and Engineerinng Society in October at Spokane, Washington.

Trista Main was selected as a KKI representative to present her poster at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists Conference in November in Phoenix, Arizona.